Libraries Lend More Movies Than Netflix

The Hartford Courant, a newspaper in Connecticut, featured an article this week about movies being borrowed from libraries. They found that more people are borrowing movies from libraries than from Netflix, Blockbuster, or Redbox. This is a sign that more people are using libraries.

Don't forget the Talking Book Center also has movies for loan! We have a collection of VHS and DVD movies featuring audio narration, produced specifically for low-vision viewers. If you are a TBC patron, give us a call today to check one out!

To read the article, please visit this link: http://articles.courant.com/2010-07-26/business/hc-library-movies-0726-20100725_1_library-services-library-circulation-higher-circulation-rate

Digitized Books for the Print Disabled

USA Today recently featured an article about a virtual library called Internet Archive, which is digitizing thousands of books in DAISY format. There are currently over 1 million books available from the site, with more being added every day.

Unlike Google, which offers public domain e-books at no charge, Internet Archive offers all types of books from standard classics to new bestsellers. The group has assumed the cost of scanning the first 10,000 books but is relying on donations to continue.

To visit the collection, please go to: http://openlibrary.org/subjects/accessible_book

And to read the USA Today article, please visit:
www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-07-14-InternetArchive14_st_N.htm

ADA Turns 20

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed on July 26, 1990. CNN.com featured two interesting articles about the ADA's history and some viewpoints from the people whose lives have been altered by it.

www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/07/26/ada.history/index.html

www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/07/26/ada.talbot/index.html

If You Like....Nora Roberts/Danielle Steel

You might like books by these other romance writers:

• Sandra Brown
  
• Janet Dailey
  
• Karen Robards
  
• Barbara Delinsky
  
• Judith Michael
  
• LaVyrle Spencer
  
• Debbie Macomber
  
• Barbara Taylor Bradford
  
• Fern Michaels
  
• Julie Garwood
  

Author Read Alikes

We have many popular authors in our collection, but you may have read all the books by your favorite author. One of our new blog features will be a "Read Alike", where we suggest some different authors with similar writing styles. If you want to try books by any of the suggested authors, please call the TBC at 1-800-531-2063.

Untraditional Libraries

Have you ever thought about visiting a library located in the mall? How about a shopping center? Or a grocery store?

Libraries across America are placing branches in unconventional locations to try to be more convenient to patrons. And it seems to be a popular idea!

Read the article about untraditional libraries at www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/Mall-Library-Proving-Wildly-Successful-97848104.html

FDA Approves "Eye Telescope"

The FDA recently approved a new device to help with age-related macular degeneration. The Implantable Miniature Telescope would be surgically implanted into one eye to provide improved central vision. The other eye would be left alone to provide peripheral vision. Post-surgery rehabilitation would be necessary to train patients how to see the two as a single vision.

90% of study participants reported an improvement in vision, but the surgery is still very risky. Patients must sign a waiver prior to surgery.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38115792/ns/health-more_health_news/

Alzheimer Center Opens in Athens

St. Mary's hospital is opening a new Alzheimer's Center on the campus of Highland Hills. The 34-bed facility will open as soon as the state licensing goes through.

The facility features keypad doors to keep residents from wandering, a reflection room designed to calm agitated residents, and large display cases where each resident can put personal photos and trinkets outside their doors. Staff are specially trained in care of those with Alzheimer's.

For more information, visit St. Mary's website at www.stmarysathens.com/services/alzheimers_dementia_care.html

or read the Athens Banner-Herald article at www.onlineathens.com/stories/071310/liv_675131459.shtml.

VA Benefits Seminar to be Held in Athens

Iris Place Retirement Community will be hosting a VA Benefits Seminar next week. This seminar will teach you if you qualify for VA benefits and how to receive them if you do. For more information, please call 706-425-0301.

VA Benefits Seminar
Saturday, July 24, 2010
2:00pm

RSVP: 706-425-0301

Digital Machines To Be Shipped to Patrons

We have now sent digital machines to all patrons who signed up for the waiting list. If you thought you signed up and still do not have a digital machine, please call the Talking Book Center at 1-800-531-2063.

As we transition from cassette to digital, all Talking Books patrons will receive a digital player, even if you did not sign up for one. We will continue to use cassettes as long as the tape players last, but NLS will soon begin decreasing cassette production, and plans to stop recording new cassettes in the next year. This means that soon, new books will only be available on digital cartridges or downloaded from BARD.

To ensure all patrons receive a digital player, we will begin shipping them out to all of our patrons over the next year. If you are a Talking Books patron and you DO NOT want to receive a new digital player, you must let us know by calling 1-800-531-2063 or emailing us at talkingbooks@athenslibrary.org.

If you have any questions about the new player, the digital transition, or any other aspect of Talking Book services, please contact us at 1-800-531-2063.

Stem Cells Help Restore Sight After Chemical Burns

An Italian study done from 1998 - 2007 found that stem cell transplants restored the sight to 82 patients who had been mostly blinded after chemical burns to the retinas. Tissue was taken from the patients and multiplied in a lab, then replanted in the patients. Since the tissue was the patient's own, anti-rejection drugs were not needed.

More information about the study can be found at www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37881663/ns/health-health_care/

Holy Bible Now Available For Download

If you are a BARD user, you can now download the Holy Bible! This is the King James Version, both Old and New Testaments, read by Alexander Scourby. The approximate reading time is 79 hours.

The Bible is DB 68777. Right now it is only available for download on BARD, but will be on cartridge in the future.

Colorful Vegetables Delay Cataracts

A University of Washington study recently discovered that cataracts, an age-related clouding of the eye lens - can be delayed by eating a diet rich in colorful vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and corn. These vegetables contain lutein, which can repair damage to the eye.

To read more about this study, please visit the CNN article found at:

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/15/study-colorful-vegetables-can-keep-vision-healthy/?hpt=Sbin